Anime avatars may help combat depression — France24
Researchers at Yokohama University have completed a pilot study to test the effectiveness of psychological counseling using anime avatars for people with symptoms of depression.
The project was led by psychiatrist Francesco Panto, who currently works in Japan. According to him, the idea for the study came from his personal experience, as anime and manga helped him cope with difficulties and feel more understood during his teenage years.
The six-month study concluded in March 2026. It involved 20 people aged 18 to 29 with symptoms of depression.
During online sessions, participants communicated with a psychologist who appeared on screen as an anime character with a digitally altered voice. According to the researchers, this approach provides additional psychological comfort and helps people talk more easily about their personal experiences.
Six characters inspired by Japanese manga archetypes were created for the project. Each had their own personality traits and specific psychological characteristics. Participants could choose which character they wanted to interact with during consultations.
As part of the experiment, the researchers also monitored the volunteers’ sleep and heart rate to assess the potential impact of this therapy on symptoms of depression.
The research team is exploring the possibility of further using artificial intelligence to conduct similar consultations without the direct involvement of a psychologist.
According to the World Economic Forum, in 2022, only 6% of Japanese residents sought psychological help for mental health issues, a significantly lower rate compared to European countries and the United States.
Source: France24.
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